Idaho Day 6: Silver Creek & Magic

Blaine County, ID

Tuesday 23 August 2022 90 °F

Silver Creek Preserve and the Magic Reservoir were on the docket today to get Will some more Idaho lifers on his last full day in Idaho. We started with an intermediate-morph SWAINSON’S HAWK right outside Silver Creek:

And a beautiful Sora that posed in a marsh on the west side of the preserve:

This COMMON NIGHTHAWK was posing on a branch for us closer to the actual creek:

And EASTERN KINGBIRDS:

This CORDILLERAN FLYCATCHER was a year bird for the both of us and a solid migrant for Silver Creek:

As was (despite the crappy photo), this male TOWNSEND’S WARBLER, only a fourth record for the preserve:

A cow and calf Moose:

The visitor center had its fair share of hummingbirds including RUFOUS:

And BLACK-CHINNED:

Here’s a side-by-side comparison of the species:

This BLUE-WINGED TEAL was a nice find on the way out of the preserve:

Soon, it was time to head out to the Magic Reservoir. Along the desert road, we had a nice LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE:

And at the reservoir itself we had RING-NECKED DUCKS:

CANADA GEESE, NORTHERN SHOVELERS, MALLARDS, NORTHERN PINTAIL, and AMERICAN AVOCETS:

A nice group of EARED GREBES on the water:

Adult CALIFORNIA GULL:

SAVANNAH SPARROWS:

A huge flock of CANADA GEESE flew over:

We were overjoyed to find two River Otters in the reservoir:

CANADA GEESE, AMERICAN AVOCETS, and one BLACK-NECKED STILT:

Immature FRANKLIN’S GULL:

A group of four WILSON’S PHALAROPES with BLACK-NECKED STILTS, NORTHERN PINTAIL, and CANADA GEESE:

HORNED LARK:

SAGE THRASHER:

LARK SPARROW:

WILSON’S SNIPE:

‘Twas a great day and a wonderful final trip with Will! It has been so enjoyable to bird with him and can’t wait to bird together when we’re both back in the greater NYC area next month!

Good birding,
Henry
World Life List: 1139 Species

Posted by skwclar 20:33 Archived in USA